Pemex struggles with growing fuel theft

Petroleos Mexicanos or Pemex, Mexico’s state oil company, reports that the problem of fuel theft continues to grow.  Thieves are managing to steal fuel from the company’s pipelines through ever more sophisticated methods.  Fuel theft has cost the company US$250 million or 20,000 barrels per day in the first quarter of 2011, it said.  President Felipe Calderon said he is urging Congress to pass tougher laws, with higher penalties for fuel theft.  The theft of fuel is linked to increases in violence from organized crime, including kidnapping, extortion and protection rackets. (June 18, 2011)